1
as in enacting
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action
the city council promises to lay down new ordinances that will force dog walkers to clean up after their animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in declaring
to state clearly and strongly
at the risk of their popularity, the parents laid down the rules for the party and wouldn't accept any arguments
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specifying
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
the supervisor laid down the procedure for a complaint of sexual harassment
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4
as in relinquishing
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
commanded the surrounded troops to lay down their weapons
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying down
Verb
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Among them was an amicus curiae signed by 200 Members of Congress urging the court to uphold the findings of the lower courts—namely, that the president overstepped his executive authority in enacting the tariffs using IEEPA.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Nov. 2025 -
Some of the companies enacting job cuts are simply looking to rein in spending — including firms at the core of the AI boom.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Members of the caucus emerged from a two-hour meeting on Thursday declaring that the 47-member group is coalescing around a unified strategy rather than splintering into factions, which could mean the government funding fight lasts well beyond the current 37 days.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Bailey's recognition comes as the magazine celebrates 40 years of declaring the honor, which began in 1985 with Oscar winner Mel Gibson.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The changes were initiated by the Homeland Security Department, the current official said, without specifying which cities were impacted.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
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Without specifying the countries of origin, the Russian Defense Ministry said foreign fighter jets were scrambled to identify the Russian aircraft on parts of their flight, adding that the flight was in strict compliance with international airspace rules.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Republicans relinquishing control of one or both chambers of Congress in 2026 will render the president a lame duck for the remainder of his second term, and Democrats have an early 4-point advantage on generic congressional ballot polling.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Nov. 2025
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McMillon said that as AI continues to proliferate and impact the ways that people’s lives and daily activities work, Walmart needs to stay an active part of the transformation, even if that means relinquishing control of how that technology evolves.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, second-year quarterback Drake Maye finds himself among the leading early MVP candidates while ranking fifth in the league in passing yards (2,285) and tied for third in touchdown passes (17) while throwing only four interceptions.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The Bearcats had 222 yards passing and 273 yards rushing.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Cheney played a central role in shaping the Bush administration’s case for war in Iraq, repeatedly asserting that Saddam Hussein had ties to al-Qaeda and weapons of mass destruction.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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Violence is for getting your way; for asserting your existence as an individual or a group; for venting torrential feeling; for sadistic pleasure.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If certified, the Johnson case could establish a significant precedent in defining the Education Department’s obligations under the FCRA.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Receiving a Michelin star can elevate a restaurant’s reputation globally and is often seen as a career-defining achievement for chefs.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Quietly, evil collapsed, while Maloyan’s virtue stood firm against brutal force, rendering that force powerless.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Other federal programs like the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement are also in limbo, rendering food banks unable to order supplies from the federal government.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
31 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Laying down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20down. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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